variations in window treatments and groupings, yet all look strangely satisfactory. The chimney and water tower both are treated in an ornamental yet inexpensive way. In our modern desire to be
POST OFFICE, HAARLEM
honest” in our architecture and express in the facade what goes on behind the scenes, it is indeed cheering to see how successfully this may be accomplished. There is but little to run up the costs over and above what was essential. A little warm gray limestone is introduced, but other than that, no material is employed but ordinary brick. The Bourse is a good example of what judicious use of inexpensive materials, combined with carefully considered but imaginative design, can achieve.
On Dwars Straat” in Amsterdam is a good example of the importance in the study of voids and masses. Here a specialized business building, requiring large show windows on the ground floor, followed by two stories with generous ceiling heights, has been economically and handsomely solved. The brick is a light red with variations lighter and darker; joints flush and light gray, and the whole cheered by a buff limestone here and again. The first floor arches show a fine restraint in being left entirely plain. Brick mullions for the second and third floor windows possess a refinement obtained with simple moulded brick. An
oriole bay is a pleasant bit of imaginative design, rivalled by the ingenious massing of the penthouse and house tank. The decorative qualities of a plain brick wall laid up in Dutch bond were intelligently realized, so that above the first floor arches and above the third floor windows to the cornice, there is a satisfying simplicity to supplement the interest stirred up by arches, windows and oriole. All in all the design does not leave much to be desired— except to be in better company than its neighbor garage.
Close to the left approach of the Central Station of Amsterdam is an altogether interesting, narrow, five storied building. Above the main door there are eagles which in themselves are handled well enough, but the brick eyries provided for them seem entirely too ample. Granted that all its features are not too desirable, such as the eyries” and the laboratorytest-tube looking stair hall windows, still it has some excellent design devices. The handling of the
MAIN ENTRANCE, RAILROAD OFFICE BUILDING, UTRECHT
vertical brick mullions running through three floors, followed by the simplicity of the top story windows, is admirable. They are built of dark red brick with flush joints a dark gray. The plan is clearly expressed, and where light was demanded only a minimum of wall space interfered.
The store and office building facing on the Dam,” Amsterdam, is an enterprising structure with good mass and detail from nearly every angle. Its main point of vantage from the “Dam” is improved by subtracting the unfortunately shaped dome on the tower, but aside from that it displays some good motives and setback ideas, particularly
POST OFFICE, HAARLEM
honest” in our architecture and express in the facade what goes on behind the scenes, it is indeed cheering to see how successfully this may be accomplished. There is but little to run up the costs over and above what was essential. A little warm gray limestone is introduced, but other than that, no material is employed but ordinary brick. The Bourse is a good example of what judicious use of inexpensive materials, combined with carefully considered but imaginative design, can achieve.
On Dwars Straat” in Amsterdam is a good example of the importance in the study of voids and masses. Here a specialized business building, requiring large show windows on the ground floor, followed by two stories with generous ceiling heights, has been economically and handsomely solved. The brick is a light red with variations lighter and darker; joints flush and light gray, and the whole cheered by a buff limestone here and again. The first floor arches show a fine restraint in being left entirely plain. Brick mullions for the second and third floor windows possess a refinement obtained with simple moulded brick. An
oriole bay is a pleasant bit of imaginative design, rivalled by the ingenious massing of the penthouse and house tank. The decorative qualities of a plain brick wall laid up in Dutch bond were intelligently realized, so that above the first floor arches and above the third floor windows to the cornice, there is a satisfying simplicity to supplement the interest stirred up by arches, windows and oriole. All in all the design does not leave much to be desired— except to be in better company than its neighbor garage.
Close to the left approach of the Central Station of Amsterdam is an altogether interesting, narrow, five storied building. Above the main door there are eagles which in themselves are handled well enough, but the brick eyries provided for them seem entirely too ample. Granted that all its features are not too desirable, such as the eyries” and the laboratorytest-tube looking stair hall windows, still it has some excellent design devices. The handling of the
MAIN ENTRANCE, RAILROAD OFFICE BUILDING, UTRECHT
vertical brick mullions running through three floors, followed by the simplicity of the top story windows, is admirable. They are built of dark red brick with flush joints a dark gray. The plan is clearly expressed, and where light was demanded only a minimum of wall space interfered.
The store and office building facing on the Dam,” Amsterdam, is an enterprising structure with good mass and detail from nearly every angle. Its main point of vantage from the “Dam” is improved by subtracting the unfortunately shaped dome on the tower, but aside from that it displays some good motives and setback ideas, particularly